(A lovely picture of Xiao Xiao)
Xiao Xiao's face flushed bright red.
What was going on?!
Was I dreaming?
Could no one else see the heart above his head???
She lowered her head. Her short skirt and white stockings, which reached her thighs, left a strip of fair, tender skin exposed.
She reached down and pinched herself.
Ouch!
I wasn't dreaming!
She looked at the system screen before her, then stole another glance at the heart above Lin Ye's head.
So...
The person I'm destined for... is that handsome guy?
More Children More Blessings??
Huh???
Xiao Xiao slumped over her desk and buried her face in her arms, her ears burning red.
Her heart was still racing when the system panel before her changed again:
[Ding—] [C-rank quest acquired: Pass a note to the person you're interested in.] [Time limit: 10 minutes!] [Completion reward: The age of all Soul Rings increases by 100 years!] [Failure penalty: The age of all Soul Rings decreases by 100 years!]
Xiao Xiao's eyes widened.
What? This quest...
The age of all my Soul Rings would go up by a hundred years?!
Was that for real?
She bit her lip.
Whatever. I'll try it!
She quickly tore off a slip of paper, scribbled a few lines, and folded it.
"Could you pass this along? Thanks."
The note traveled from person to person until it reached Wang Dong'er.
Wang Dong'er looked down at it:
"Hey, handsome. Want to get to know me? I'm the pretty girl with green hair behind you and to your left~"
She turned to look.
When Xiao Xiao saw her looking over, her face turned scarlet, and she hurriedly lowered her head.
Wang Dong'er shrugged.
Well, with a face like mine, how could girls not be drawn to me?
But...
She glanced sidelong at Lin Ye beside her.
My attention's on someone else right now.
She tucked the note into a corner of her desk and ignored it.
The system panel popped up before Xiao Xiao:
[Ding! C-rank quest complete!] [Reward: The age of all Soul Rings increases by 100 years!]
Xiao Xiao jolted.
She could clearly feel that the auras of her two yellow Hundred-Year Soul Rings had grown stronger!
They really had improved!
By a hundred years!
These system quests were real!
Her heart pounded, and her thoughts were a mess.
Then... was that whole destined-person thing real too?
The handsome guy with pink-blue hair hadn't replied to my note...
The other handsome guy, the one with black hair...
He was the person I was destined for...
Would he talk to me?
Maybe... I should strike up a conversation after class?
After class.
Lin Ye and Wang Dong'er walked toward the classroom door together.
Just then, Xiao Xiao trotted up to Lin Ye.
"Um... h-hello."
Lin Ye's interest stirred. Wasn't this Xiao Xiao?
"Hello."
Standing beside him, Wang Dong'er instantly went on alert.
Hadn't this girl passed me a note during class? Why was she approaching Lin Ye now?
At a loss for what to do, Xiao Xiao held out a hand.
"Um... could we get to know each other? I'm Xiao Xiao."
Lin Ye took her soft little hand. "Nice to meet you, Xiao Xiao. I'm Lin Ye."
Xiao Xiao's face flushed bright red.
The next moment, the system panel appeared before her:
[Congratulations! Main quest: More Children More Blessings stage objective complete!] [Soul Power increased by one level!]
Xiao Xiao froze.
Just a handshake... and I'd gained a level?!
Before she could process it, Wang Dong'er yanked their joined hands apart.
"How long were you going to keep holding hands?! Hmph!"
Wang Dong'er turned and walked away.
Watching her go, Lin Ye wondered, Why did that feel like jealousy?
He turned back to Xiao Xiao. "Let's talk next time, Xiao Xiao. I have to go."
With that, he hurried after Wang Dong'er.
Xiao Xiao stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the hand he had just held.
Holding Lin Ye's hand... had raised my Soul Power by a level?
This...
She pressed her hand to her burning cheek, feeling dizzy.
Meanwhile, Lin Ye had run out of the classroom but still hadn't caught up with Wang Dong'er.
Suddenly, a lively figure blocked his path.
Startled, Lin Ye looked up and found Tang Ya standing there.
"Xiao Ya?"
Tang Ya wore a mysterious smile as she pulled him aside and said quietly, "Little Ye, you don't have much money, right?"
Lin Ye wondered, Was Tang Ya trying to start a business with me?
He had some money, but who would turn down more?
He nodded. "That's right! I heard there are jobs you can take at the academy. I was planning to look into it after school."
Lin Ye already had an idea. He could open a milk tea stall. It would give him a chance to meet the academy's talented students and make it easier to give them systems.
Tang Ya giggled. "Little Ye, you're my own junior. As your senior, I ought to look after you."
"I thought of something. I have an old snack cart you could use to sell food. I just don't know if you can make anything."
Lin Ye's eyes lit up. "That sounds great, Xiao Ya! I could sell milk tea!"
Tang Ya blinked. "Milk tea?"
"That's right!"
Lin Ye led Tang Ya to an empty corner and took the Milk Tea Maker out of the Leopard Skin Pouch, which was no bigger than a keychain charm.
He poured in Soul Power and willed it to work.
A fragrant cup of milk tea came out.
Tang Ya held the unfamiliar drink in both hands and took a cautious sip.
Then...
She went still.
"Oh my goodness, I've never tasted anything like this!"
She stared wide-eyed at Lin Ye. "You'll make a fortune selling this!"
Tang Ya had never expected Lin Ye to have such a trick up his sleeve.
She immediately said, "Then I get first dibs on the milk tea from your stall!"
Seeing how badly Tang Ya wanted more, Lin Ye smiled knowingly. "Sure, Xiao Ya. Shall we meet here tonight?"
"Mm-hmm! I have to head back now. Oh, and I've got good news: I moved up to the fourth year!"
Tang Ya waved to him and ran off in high spirits.
Lin Ye watched her leave. Only then did he remember:
Wang Dong'er seemed upset earlier.
He smacked his forehead and hurried toward the dormitory.
As soon as he entered, he saw Wang Dong'er lying on her bed with her face toward the wall, plainly sulking.
Lin Ye walked over. "Dong'er, are you jealous?"
Wang Dong'er's voice shot up. "Wh-what do you mean, jealous? We're both guys. Why would I be jealous?"
Lin Ye moved closer to her bed and braced a hand on its edge, trying to lean over and see her face.
"You say you're not jealous? Then turn around."
The moment he finished speaking, Wang Dong'er spun around.
Their faces were inches apart.
Their eyes met.
The room fell quiet, and an indefinable intimacy hung between them.
Wang Dong'er parted her lips but said nothing.
Lin Ye gazed into her pink-blue eyes, momentarily stunned too.
She really was beautiful.
He had never seen beauty like hers in his previous life.
Even saying she had stars in her eyes wouldn't do her justice.
Wang Dong'er spoke in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz. "Lin Ye... I..."
Lin Ye looked her in the eyes and said earnestly, "Dong'er, the truth is, I know you're a girl."
Wang Dong'er's mind went blank. "Since when..."
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